Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck

Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri

Early and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens

S. R. STAFFORD. It is a pleasure to write the biography of a man of unusual personal merit--the possessor of a combination of gifts so comprehensive that happiness and success in any enterprise is bound to follow the application of his qualities to the solution of almost any reasonable problem in life. The career of S. R. Stafford, veteran of the Civil war, a pioneer and for a long period a farmer, stock man, miller and merchant of this section of the Ozarks, would indicate that he is the possessor of those characteristics that make for success in almost any walk of life, and it also shows that he has not used these traits entirely for self aggrandizement, but that he has been a public-spirited and helpful citizen, doing what he could all along the line to promote the general welfare of the various communities in which he has resided.

Mr. Stafford was born in Dallas county, Missouri, November 6, 1843, the son of a pioneer family. He grew to manhood in Dallas county, and when a boy assisted his father with the general work about the farm and blacksmith shop, attending the rural schools in the winter time. When a young man he began life for himself by trading and handling cattle and other live stock. He made several trips to California and back in the early days, taking cattle to the Western markets. When the Civil war came on he existed in the Federal army, serving very creditably for three years as a member of the Twenty-fourth Volunteer Infantry. He participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, including Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Lone Jack and Springfield. He was honorably discharged, and soon thereafter began farming in Webster county, later working in a flouring mill, finally becoming owner of a good mill there; later he engaged in general merchandising at Hurley, Stone county, Missouri. Having accumulated a competency for his old age he retired from active life some time ago and is now making his home at Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

On March 8, 1865, he was married in Webster county to Anna Elizabeth Turner, the daughter of an old Webster county family. To our subject and wife the following children were born, namely: John C. is engaged farming near Green Forest, Arkansas; William D., deceased; Viola is the wife of L. A. Logan and they live in Hurley, Missouri; Bertha is teaching in the Pickwick school in Springfield; Adella is the wife of R. W. Swart and they live at Crane, Missouri; Bessie is the wife of E. M. Fite and they reside at Marionville, this state; Arch lives at Hurley, Missouri.

Bertha Stafford, mentioned above, and to whom we are indebted for this biographical data, was given good educational advantages, which she made the most of, being ambitious to do something worth while in the world. After completing the work in the common schools at Marionville, Lawrence county, she specialized in kindergarten work, after which she taught in the Marionville schools for a period of twelve years, then engaged in general merchandising for one year, but finding teaching more to her liking she came to Springfield and began teaching in the primary department of the McDaniel school, later being transferred to the Pickwick school as principal of the primary department, where she has since remained; she is giving eminent satisfaction. As a teacher she has kept well abreast of the times in her line and is alert, painstaking, energetic and sets a commendable example before her pupils. She is an active member of the First Baptist church of Springfield and is superintendent of the junior department in the Sunday school. She is a lady of pleasing personality and has made many friends since coming to Springfield.